Athena’s lieutenants shift unsteadily, glancing at one another before turning to her. Their stances harden, and her fingers twitch at her side.
“This is precisely why I had to hide it!” She waves her hands wildly. “Not because I was ashamed, but because I knew you’d never understand. That’s why I’m the leader, and you’re thefollowers. And if you had any—”
Viper moves before she can finish, taking her by the arm and twisting both behind her back. His other hand clamps at the base of her skull, holding her in place.
“Shut up and stand down,” he growls in her ear.
She stiffens, mouth clenched shut as Viper holds her in place.
After a beat of silence, Charles steps closer with a frown. “Athena, we hereby strip you of your title, effective immediately.”
Nora steps toward her. “You’ve failed us.”
“You’re no better than the ones we fight!” Giselle hisses.
Titus’s hands shake at his sides. “Toxic. Unclean. Unworthy of the Order.”
Athena drops her head.
Echo chuckles. “Cipher called it, huh?”
Kane almost smiles, but he can’t. He trusted her once.
All of them did.
“Baron,” Charles calls out. “You and your people may go. There’s much to discuss. But from here on, we intend to avoid further conflict. Unless provoked…”
“And the territory you took?” Kane asks, rising to his feet.
Nora bows. “We’ll be in touch. With a formal peace treaty.”
He hums in agreement, then inclines his head to his crew. “Fail to, and we’re coming for you.”
With this, he strides for the exit, offering Viper a curt nod as he passes. Viper mirrors the gesture, hands still full of Athena.
As they move into the corridor, the door shuts with a hiss, and a chill runs down his spine.
One wrong move from a blood bath.
Instead, Echo has an arm draped around Coda, whose mouth twitches in a half-smile. Wren and Pixie walk ahead, whispering to each other.
Whatever happens to Athena next isn’t on them. She chose this.
Still, Natural Order won’t vanish overnight.
For now, at least, their war is over.
In the lobby, the enemy enforcers wait. Kane and the others pass them in silence, retrieving their gear from the mercs. Not a single one lifts a hand to stop them.
Tonight, Shreveport is theirs again. They’re going home.
And someone is waiting for him.
44
Chapter 44 - Rafael
Wrap. Fold. Seal.